Identification of a Drug Targeting an Intrinsically Disordered Protein Involved in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 5:7:39732. doi: 10.1038/srep39732.

Abstract

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are prevalent in eukaryotes, performing signaling and regulatory functions. Often associated with human diseases, they constitute drug-development targets. NUPR1 is a multifunctional IDP, over-expressed and involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development. By screening 1120 FDA-approved compounds, fifteen candidates were selected, and their interactions with NUPR1 were characterized by experimental and simulation techniques. The protein remained disordered upon binding to all fifteen candidates. These compounds were tested in PDAC-derived cell-based assays, and all induced cell-growth arrest and senescence, reduced cell migration, and decreased chemoresistance, mimicking NUPR1-deficiency. The most effective compound completely arrested tumor development in vivo on xenografted PDAC-derived cells in mice. Besides reporting the discovery of a compound targeting an intact IDP and specifically active against PDAC, our study proves the possibility to target the 'fuzzy' interface of a protein that remains disordered upon binding to its natural biological partners or to selected drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Ductal / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Intrinsically Disordered Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Trifluoperazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Trifluoperazine / chemistry
  • Trifluoperazine / pharmacology
  • Trifluoperazine / therapeutic use
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
  • NUPR1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Trifluoperazine
  • trifluoperazine dimaleate